2. Michael Jackson
Thriller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA
3. Video One
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Written by Rod Temperton,
Produced by Quincy Jones
Featuring a guest soliloquy from Vincent Price.
“Thriller is an early 1984 hit single recorded by Michael Jackson for the Epic label. It reached number 4 in the U.S. singles chart and
number 10 in the UK singles chart. The 14-minute video is regarded by many as the greatest music video of all-time, and the song itself
is considered to be one of Jackson’s signature songs.”
There is a clear relationship between the lyrics and the visuals in the music video. Even by just looking at the name of the track you
can tell that the genre is gothic horror pop and we as the audience expect to see elements of this in the video. The video starts with a
drama scene on Michael Jackson and his on screen girl friend walking through a grave yard after a night at the movies. The lead up to
the track creates tension and atmosphere and gives added depth to the track. This is a sort extract of the lyrics to give a clear overview
of the relationship between the lyrics and the visuals.
4. ‘It's close to midnight and something
evil's lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight, you see a sight
that almost stops your heart
You try to scream but terror takes
the sound before you make it
You start to freeze as horror looks
you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed
'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one's gonna save you from
the beast about strike
You know it's thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a
killer, thriller tonight’
5. Visuals and Lyrics
In this particular video the visuals and
lyrics play an important part in making
the song different and unique.
Throughout the video there is the
frequent use of close up shots on the
lead singer. Although this is apparent in
most music videos, the close-up shots
carries importance in this particular
one.
The video features aspects from gothic
horror and the costumes and
characters that are portrayed in this
video are of up most importance. By
having close-up shots it is easy for the
audience to see that visual change in
the lead characters appearance; which
has relevance to the lyrics. It also
shows the importance of the lead
singer. However, we also experience
numerous long shots which allows us
as the audience to see the mise-en-
scene of the scene, again this helping
to create the gothic horror set and add
depth to the track.
6. Music Tempo
The video makes use of the tempo
of the track to drive the editing and
gives emphasise to particular
sounds and beats. The tempo of
the song is highlighted particularly
in this music video by the pace of
which the main artist and dancers
move and walk to.
There is also emphasis on certain
lyrics ( you hear the door slam) the
visuals also highlight this. The
foregrounding instruments are also
emphasised by the dancers hitting
a particular beat, the editing also
cuts and skips from particular shots
and angles according to the beat
and tempo of the track.
7. Narrative and Performance
Narrative is very important and apparent in this
music video. Right from the start we are
introduced to two characters (one of which is the
lead singer) and we are set up to a scene of which
features gothic horror elements. The video allows
the audience much more varied access to the
performer, we see close-up shots; allowing eye
contact and close observations.
The visual narrative and performance gives
added depth to the track. The choreographed
dance performance is an iconic routine of
Michael Jackson and will live forever, this is part
of the huge success of this song and video
worldwide. There is a clear link between Michael
Jackson and his dance routines, this is apparent
in all his music videos.
10. Video Two
Dirrty" is a song performed by American singer Christina Aguilera
featuring rapper Reggie "Redman" Noble. The song was written by
Aguilera and Redman along with Jasper Cameron, Balewa
Muhammad, and Rock wilder for Aguilera's second studio album
Stripped (2002). It received mixed reviews from music critics.
The song is best remembered for its accompanying music video, for
which Aguilera was allowed creative control. The relationship
between the lyrics and the visuals is what brought so much
controversy. The video brought her sexuality to the forefront and
eliminated the "girl next door" image that she had accumulated from
her previous work. The lyrics helped to create the ‘Dirrty’ ‘dark’ mood
and feeling of the track. The subject matter is highlighted through the
name of the track but particularly through the lyrics of the song.
11. Lyrics
“Ah, dirrty (dirrty)
Filthy (filthy)
Nasty (Christina), you nasty (yeah)
Too dirrty to clean my act up
If you ain't dirrty
You ain't here to party (woo!)”
12. Music and Camera Work
The music and the tempo of the track is apparent in the video and the editing of it. The
foregrounding instruments help to create the tempo and therefore the change in camera
shots and visual performances.
The genre of this particular track is R&B this is made apparent by the mise-en-scene,
costumes and overall performance. The video proceeds to a scene of Aguilera and back-up
dancers splashing and dancing while being sprayed with water in a room containing several
urinals. This scene is a key feature of the R&B genre, containing certain sexual elements and
references as in other R&B videos.
The camera work of this music video is very sleek and smooth. The camera cuts from shot to
shot with the tempo. There is frequent use of close up shots to put emphasis on the lead
singer and to show her importance in the video. The video opens with Aguilera gearing up
and riding a motorcycle into a nightclub. Wearing a bikini, she is lowered from a cage into a
boxing ring and dances, accompanied by several back-up dancers. The scene is inter-cut
with sequences and shots of Aguilera dancing in a crop top, which she later removes to
reveal a bikini top, and a micro skirt. The camera work is important to portray this “new,
grown up” artist. The video generated some controversy and presented Aguilera's new
public image. However, ‘Aguilera's new image was widely rejected by the public to the
extent that it began to overshadow her music.’
14. Narrative
The video doesn’t particularly show
a story or narrative however, there
is a clear semblance between the
lyrics and the visual. She is being
‘Dirty’ and this may be showing a
story in her personal life, the
growth from a “school-girl” into a
“Dirty-girl”. There is clear lip-sync
and there is numerous
choreographed dance routines
throughout the video. This makes
the video more interesting to watch
and emphasises the new portrayal
of Christina Aguilera.